I always felt like I couldn’t rock side braids because my hair wasn’t long enough. There are so many photos of long hair in braids on Pinterest that I simply decided it wasn’t going to be in the cards for me unless I grew my hair out.

With no plans to grow my hair out, I decided to give a side braid a shot for crying out loud. How bad could it be?

After this tutorial, I proceeded to wear my hair in a soft, loose side french braid for a few days. I loved that it was different from a typical ponytail, and it still got my hair off my neck in the 90 degree days.

The key for this look is loose and messy. Let pieces fall out. Make it look like you took a nap on it. The looser the better, and it will avoid looking like a perfectly juvenile french braid.

French braiding is just practice. Grab a YouTube vid for technique and then practice anytime you’re watching TV. It helps if you’re sitting on a coach so you can rest your arms on the back when you need to (they can get a little sore at first). The great thing about practicing at home when you’re not going out is that it doesn’t matter when the first few braids are terrible. Just take them out and braid again.

You can do it! Like another person said! Find a youtube video and practice practice! The nice thing about this side french braid is it doesn’t need to look perfect to wear it! I messy french braid would look pretty too!

I love the soft braid look. My hair has just gotten long enough I can pull it in a pony tail, but I get tired of it. I may have to test it on 2nd day hair…otherwise it might be so loose it just falls out!! 🙂

I’m so glad that you shared this with us! I just recently started *trying* to french braid my own hair. my fingers have trouble working together for the common goal! haha! If you have any tips on braiding your own hair/finger work, I’d love a better tutorial on that!

I love French braids, especially for summer, but I have lots of layers in my hair and I tend to get a spiky- looking braid with little pieces of hair sticking out the whole way down the braid. Is there any way to avoid that??

“and it still got my hair off my neck in the 90 degree days.”
Last year I walked up to a kids’ lemonade stand when I drove by it on my way home from work. As I was walking back to my car, a woman rolled her window down and called out to me saying how smart I was for wearing my hair in a side braid since it probably kept my neck free of hair. She was right – my neck was cool on that 100+ degree day!

I tried this on my hair today and I couldn’t help but think, “I look pretty freakin’ awesome.” Thanks for another great hair tutorial! I’m a missionary in Botswana (Africa) and have been following your blog since I moved here in 2012 (found you on Pintrest!). I miss Ulta and Sephora with a passion, but reading your blog and watching your tutorials helps me get my beauty fix 🙂

Thanks so much for your great tutorials! I have always wanted to wear a side braid but didn’t know how to French braid. After watching your tutorial I was able to easily do it. This is probably my new favorite hairstyle! I love LOVE love your blog!! 🙂

I have just discovered your blog and I love it! Your hair tutorials are perfect for my hair and lifestyle. Thank you. My 19 month old son also liked boogying to the music in this one, so thanks for keeping us both entertained!